Page 106 of Give Me Forever

Chapter Twenty-Six

Avery

Kimberly and I ateour combined weight in sweets. Somehow, the sugar rush also brought on a bout of creativity. Now I was suddenly sketching. Kimberly was pacing around as we talked about everything and nothing. She was mostly bashing her last boyfriend, who'd also happened to be her boss back in Paris. In between, she kept asking me stuff about Chicago, which I thought was a bit weird. I mean, she'd been away for a few years, but surely she knew the city better than I did. I'd been gone since graduating high school.

“So if there's one thing you would absolutely love to do tonight, what would it be?" she asked all of a sudden while I finalized the clasp.

"I'd love to go on a boat out on the lake. I've never been," I said, turning around the sketch for her to see.

A huge smile lit up her face, and she stood straighter. That was a very enthusiastic reaction to my sketch. I approved.

"I love that!" she exclaimed. "Oh, you've got such a way with jewelry. I like the shape of the pendant.” I'd drawn in a straight column but added a spiral on it so it gave the appearance of a fluid image. "And boats, huh? That's interesting to know."

I frowned. "Is it really?"

She nodded. "Oh yeah. Let me just send this text message."

"You want to share the sketch with Reese?"

Kimberly's eyes widened. "Sure," she said in a tone that told me that wasn't at all what she was doing. But she snapped a picture of the sketch before sending the message. Still smiling, she came and sat on the couch next to me, stretching out her hand. I gave her the drawing, and she inspected it carefully.

"You know, I heard from Sam that you’re missing your old business, but I have to say, I think you're meant to do what you’re doing."

"Oh, I think so too," I said. "I never realized how much heart I can put into this, especially the custom orders. I've got a few more ideas just for you. Let me get to work."

“Please do."

I was so lost in my sketching that I didn't even realize my phone was beeping twenty minutes later.

"Earth to Avery," Kimberly said, sounding overly enthusiastic. "The phone."

"Oh yeah, right." I’d been sitting on it. As I grabbed it from under my ass, I nearly dropped it on the floor. "I've got a message from Sam."

"I know."

"You do?"

Kimberly blushed. "I mean, I assumed it would be from him."

Sam: Babe, I'm coming home. I'm whisking you away and making up for the past few days.

I squealed, turning it around so Kimberly could see.

She nodded her approval. "Short and sweet. Let's get you ready. You need a gorgeous dress."

I was about to reply to Sam when her words registered. I looked up at her. "What are you talking about? I don't even know where I'm going."

The corners of her mouth tipped up. "I do."

"Wait, what? What is happening right now?"

"You're in the midst of a Maxwell... Hmm, what shall we call it? Intervention? Tornado? Whatever, girl. Just go with it. Trust me."

"I haven't finished your sketch."

She smiled sweetly. "You can do it another time. He didn't say when he's coming, huh?"